“Be with me. I need you.”
I’m right here. Go, Emery. Now.
My eyes open and I sprint as fast as I can, each step hotter than the last, scorching my feet as I scream through the pain. The flesh from the bottom of my feet up to my knees feels as if it’s melting off my legs, the intense pain of the burns stealing my breath along with the clouds of smoke. Finally, I get to the door, and the handle is hot, taking me by surprise. The longer I take, the more charred my feet get. Finally, I get a grip on the handle and yank it open, the rush of oxygen feeding the fire, giving it what it wants.
The wave of fresh air hits me like a brick wall, and I fall down the front of my steps. Tears singe my eyes as the mixture of ash and smoke burns them. Sobs pour from my body as I use every ounce of strength in my arms to army crawl onto the grass of my front yard, attempting to get further from the flames. The soft green blades of the grass tickle the tender skin of my face as the sound of my home burning to the ground haunts me as I fall unconscious.
“Derek? Is that you?” I squint, my eyes no longer burning, but I can’t get up from the grass.
His beautiful face comes into view, and his black hair falls slightly in front of his face as he lays down on the grass beside me.
“Hi, baby.” He smiles with worry etched over his face as he holds my hands in his.
“How are you here?”
“I should be asking you that question.” He smirks, and I can’t help but feel like this is a dream. “God, I miss this.”
“I miss this too. Am I dying?” I feel my eyes getting heavier. But I don’t feel the burns that I know have seared my skin.
“No, you’re surviving. Like you’ve always done.” His small smile feels like home. His dark blue eyes are comforting me more than I could ever ask for.
“I’m so tired.”
“I know, baby.”
“I love you, Derek.”
“I love you too, Emery.”
“Please don’t let go.”
“Never.”
eldritch—otherworldly, eerie, strange
Mason
Days without Emery are dim in comparison to the light she adds to my life. All I can think about is what I’d do if she chose not to forgive me. And the answer? I don’t fucking know. But then again, I knew from the moment I saw her break down in the ER that she was a force to be reckoned with. The most dangerous kind. She’s subtle and unsuspecting, so you don’t see or feel her work herself into your heart until she’s already there.
It’s been a slow day, which I’m grateful for because my concentration is shit, but once I get a call, I’ll snap out of it. The buzz of my phone against my leg surprises me, and I see Tristan’s name.
“Hey, are you already done?” They were supposed to meet thirty minutes ago.
“No, she never showed. I’ve been calling her, but it’s going straight to voicemail. Can you try? Maybe it’s my phone.”
A pit forms in my stomach. “Yeah, I’ll call you back.”
Hanging up, I dial Emery, but it’s the same for me—straight to voicemail. I try sending her a text, but it doesn’t show delivered. I call Tristan back. “Same for me. Texts won’t go through either.”
“I have a bad feeling, dude.” Me too.
“I’m gonna text you her address, will you go check on her? This isn’t like her.”
“Yeah, I’m already in the car.” I hear him start it up, and I pull the phone away from my ear and shoot him a text.
“Alright, sent. Let me know what’s going on, Tristan.” My hand rubs the back of my neck as I push away the dread trying to seep into my bones.
“Yeah, it says I’m twenty minutes out, but I’ll try and hurry.”
“She lives in the country, no neighbors nearby, so you won’t miss the house.”
“Okay. I’ll call you.”
“Thanks, Tristan.”
I hang up and immediately start pacing around the corridor of where we stay on shift. Each second feels like a minute, and the hand of the clock slowly ticks by.
Three minutes.
Five minutes.
Ten minutes.
Twelve minutes.
At the sixteen-minute mark, our sirens and radio sound off for a call, and I groan.
“Fuck, ” I say as I hurry and grab what we need and run to the ambulance. I feel my phone vibrating, but I can’t get it right now. I just have to pray everything is all right. “What do we got?” I yell out as I prepare for what we may be in for.
“House fire. One victim. Twenty-eight, female, and was found unconscious outside the home. Severe burns, but not sure of the extent.”
My hands stop moving, and I know. I fucking know it’s her—it’s my girl.
“Where is it at?” My voice shakes in trepidation. God, please don’t let it be her. Please.
“Off County Road. Middle of the country.”
My heart drops in my chest, and anger rises in my throat, gripping me tight like a noose. “FUCK!” I punch the bed in the back, my breathing erratic. I need to get myself under control, or they won’t let me near her, and I’ll be damned if anyone tries to stop me. “Fucking step on it, Mark. It’s Emery.”
“Shit,” I hear him mutter as the sirens stay on, and we weave in and out of traffic until we’re in the country. I sit tight, closing my eyes and praying she’s okay and pull out my phone and see missed call after missed call from Tristan. I ring him back.
“Mason! Where the fuck are you?!” His panicked voice kills me.
“We’re close. Is she okay? Is she conscious?”
“She has a faint pulse, but she’s still unconscious. I found her lying in the yard, ten feet from the house. The whole fucking thing is up in flames!” He’s yelling over the loud fire behind him. “I pulled her farther away from the house, but I don’t fucking know what to do!” The sound of the sirens sounds through the phone. “Thank fuck. The Fire Department is here. I’ll see you soon.” He hangs up, and I have to clench my teeth together so I don’t lose it. I see the smoke, but when her house comes into view—it’s my greatest fear come true. Speeding into the driveway, I jump out of the ambulance and sprint to Tristan and my girl. Black soot is smeared over her beautiful skin, and Brett and I start working on her. Her pulse is steady, but her lungs are a fucking mess along with the burns on her skin. And her feet, God her feet.
“We need to get her to the hospital to get her lungs checked out. Now,” I say as I work on the laceration on her head. Brett yells at a few people, and we get the stretcher over to us, load her up, and get her into the ambulance.
“I’m gonna follow you,” Tristan yells as he runs to his car. I keep monitoring Emery’s oxygen and breathing, and work on some of her burns. The bottoms of her feet are already completely blistered and bloody, and I have to do everything in my power not to break down for my girl.
“I’m right here, love. I’m not going anywhere.” Raising my hand, I move the hair out of her face and from the oxygen tube.
Once we arrive at the hospital, the doctors take over, and it kills me to not be with her.
“Hey, stay here. I don’t want you back at work. I’ll call Britney in.”
My eyes move to Brett’s as I rub my hands down my face and through my hair. “Thanks, man.”
“Let me know how she is.” He pats my shoulder before heading back, and I head to the nurse’s station, and she tells me her family has already been notified. Sighing, I turn and realize I’m in the same spot I watched her break down a little over a year ago.
Except now I’m the one scared I might lose her—lose everything.
retrouvaille—the joy of meeting or finding someone
again after a long separation; rediscovery
Emery
Why do my eyes feel so heavy? Oh my God, why do my legs hurt so badly? Is there a weight on my chest?
The slow beep in the background confuses me, but then the memories flood my brain, and my eyes pop open as a sob leaves my sore throat.
<
br /> “Emery? Baby?” Mason is over me, pushing the hair from my face with furrowed brows. The bags under his worried eyes are darker than I’ve ever seen. “Hang on, love.” He disappears for a second, and I hear him call for a nurse before he’s back to me—holding my hand.
“Water,” I croak out, my chest tired and sore.
Mason grabs the water and tips the straw to my lips as I take a small sip that feels like cool ocean waves washing over the ashes in my body. I take another sip, craving the feeling again.
“You don’t know how good it is to see your eyes, love. I’ve died a thousand times in the last five days.”
“What happened?” The whisper leaves my lips. I remember some, but my memory is foggy.
Mason’s face drops. “They were able to identify the fire while you were out. The gas from the stove exploded, and they think when it knocked you back, that’s how you hurt your head. You had to have been knocked out for a while in there from the severity of your lungs and burns.” Mason’s hand cups my cheek as a tear slides down his face. “I thought I was going to lose you, Emery.”
“How did I get here?” I close my eyes, still whispering—I’m so tired, still.
“When you didn’t show up for your lunch, Tristan called me. I told him to go to you because neither of us could get a hold of you. He found you outside on the grass.”
My lips quiver, thankful I’m alive. The memories are slowly coming back to me. I remember running down the hallway and then seeing Derek once I got outside. I remember feeling him right before I blacked out. Everything else is a blur.
“Is-is the house…” I can’t say it.
Mason’s eyes close, a look of regret tainting his face as he squeezes my hand and nods. Tears fall from my eyes, and a cry bubbles from my mouth, and he kisses my forehead. “I know. I’m so fucking sorry, Emery. I’m so sorry.”
“Everything of Derek's—it’s gone.” I wail at the thought. “I’ve lost everything of ours. Everything. I’m not ready to part with him, to let him go. He was there with me. On the grass. He was there,” I say through my tears. My hands fly to my chest, and it’s gone. My breathing escalates, but Mason shushes me and holds up my necklace with Derek’s ring on it. A sob of relief flees my body as my hands cover my face as I try to sort through all the emotions running through my body.
After a while, I calm down, and Mason rubs across my forehead. “Love?”
Wiping my eyes, I look at him. “I know this is the worst thing that could have happened. I wish I could get everything back for you. But what did you tell me about this necklace a few weeks ago?” I’m silent, and he continues, “You said, this was the only thing that made you feel close to Derek. You were clutching it in your hands when Tristan found you. You still have this. You still have him. He’ll always be here with you, whether you have the material things or not.” Mason’s thumb brushes the apple of my cheek back and forth. “And you’ll always have me. No matter what, you’ll always have me.” He sniffles. “I’m so sorry, Em. For everything. Not telling you what I knew. I’m so damn sorry.”
I lift my hand and cup his cheek. “I forgive you.”
The weight falls off his shoulders as they droop when his head falls onto my bed, right next to my stomach. My fingers skate through his hair, reveling in the comfort he brings me. Mason lifts his head again, grabbing my hand and kisses it.
“I love you,” I whisper with a small smile.
“You should feel what it’s like loving you.” He smiles sweetly before leaning forward, pressing a soft kiss to my lips.
“My legs hurt so bad.” My eyes close from the pain, and I hear Mason greet the doctor.
“Hi, Emery. It’s good to see you awake. You had us worried for a bit.” I smile and wave my hand before he continues, “You came in with severe smoke inhalation and contracted an infection. We ended up sedating you due to the infection to let your lungs rest and your body fight back. Your oxygen improved greatly, and we’ve been waiting to see you since yesterday.”
I nod with a thankful smile, and he continues, “Luckily, you were out for the worst part of debriding the burns on your feet. They’ve shown huge improvement, and at this rate, we’re hoping you’ll be home within a week. You won’t be walking yet, but you will be going to a rehab facility. We need to make sure you don’t have nerve damage among any other potential complications. Do you have any questions?”
I shake my head and look at Mason. “Does Mom and Dad know?”
“I texted them. They ran to get food, but they’re on their way back.” He looks at me lovingly, still brushing my cheek and holding my hand as I nod.
“Thank you.”
“Of course,” Mason responds.
I look at the doctor. “Thank you. For everything.”
“It’s my pleasure. I’m happy to see you awake. The nurses will be in shortly to check on you and make sure your medicines are in line.”
I nod my understanding and he leaves. I look at Mason, and he’s already looking at me. “I don’t blame you for Derek’s death, Mason,” I whisper to him, squeezing his hand.
“You don’t have to do this now—”
“No, no. I want to. I need to,” I say as I feel around for the remote, pressing the button to sit me up a little bit so I can look at him better. “I’m grateful, Mason. You poured your heart into saving him, risking your own life. I could never thank you enough for that.”
Mason bites his lips as he tries to hide the pain and hold back tears. Lifting my hand, I cup his warm cheek again. “Thank you,” I say, and he shakes his head, looking down, but I lift his chin again. “And thank you for saving me.”
“You should be thanking Tristan,” he scoffs, wiping his eyes and shaking his head from the fog.
“And I will. But I wasn’t talking about the fire.” I smile thankfully, and Mason looks back and forth between my eyes.
He’s about to say something, but my parents come barreling in the room, a crying mess and ready to fawn all over me. My mom and dad both hug me, kissing my head. “You scared the hell out of me, kiddo.” My dad's cracked voice makes me smile, his love always so protecting.
“Sorry for the scare,” I croak out.
They pull away, and my mom wipes her eyes. “I’m just so thankful you’re okay.” Smiling, I nuzzle into her hand. When I look up, I see Drew at the end of my bed, withdrawn and worry etched over her pretty face. Patting the spot next to me, I nod for her to come here. On the first step forward, tears fall from her eyes as a sob bubbles from her throat. Drew throws her arms around me as gently as she can, and I hold her head to my chest, rubbing my fingers through her blonde hair.
“Don’t ever do something so stupid again.”
“But did I die?” I say jokingly, trying to lighten the mood. But it backfires because she glares instead of laughs. “Sorry, sorry. Too soon.”
“God, Emery. Never again.”
I chuckle as I pat her back. “Okay. I’ll work on avoiding open flames.”
“Smartass,” Drew scoffs as she sits up, wiping her eyes.
As the day goes on, the pain intensifies, but it’s minimal when I think about how grateful I am to be alive and surrounded by my family. Laying back with a content smile on my face, I close my eyes and listen to the four of them talk when a knock on the door wakes me back up. A man Mason’s height with dirty-blond hair and completely covered in tattoos except for his face stands in the doorway. He gives me a small smile, and I know who it is right away. They aren’t identical, but they have similar features.
“Come on in,” Mason says as he pats the chair next to him. “Emery, this is Tristan, Tristan, Emery.”
He waves with a crooked smile on his face.
“Hi, Tristan. Thank you for coming to check on me. Saving me.”
He shakes his head. “No thanks needed. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
Drew clears her throat and adjusts her messy bun. “Hi, I’m Drew. Emery’s sister.” She sticks out her hand, and Tristan�
�s eyes widen. Oh boy.
“Nice to meet you.” They don’t let go and linger just slightly, and Mom and Dad roll their eyes, which makes me giggle.
“Do you guys think you could give Tristan and me a moment?” I ask everyone else.
“Sure thing, love. I’m going to grab a coffee.” Mason kisses my head, followed by my parents and Drew. Tristan watches her leave, tracking her every step. When he looks back at me, I cock my eyebrow with a crooked smile.
“So, your sister single?”
“Oh, good Lord.” We both laugh, his bright white teeth shining. “It’s kinda weird, isn't it?”
Tristan nods. “It is.” He looks down at his hands. “I’m sorry for hurting you, Em.”
I smile. “I forgive you. Thank you.”
He nods and looks up at me. “Thank you, as well.”
“For what?”
“You saved me long before I saved you. Those letters…They’re the only reason I’m still here.”
“I could say the same thing.” We both smile.
“Are you and Mason okay?”
I nod my head. “Yeah. We’re okay.”
A deep breath leaves his body. “Good. That’s really good.”
“Tristan?”
“Yeah?”
I lift my hands and sign the words as best I can as I speak them for extra effect. “Hurt my sister, and I’ll kick your ass.”
Tristan barks out a laugh, and I chuckle before coughing up a storm, and Mason comes back in. “Okay, smokey. Time to get some rest.”
I smile, taking Mason’s hand and holding it as I fall asleep with my family surrounding me. I’m so fucking lucky because not everyone gets a second chance.
So, if you do, take it.
hygge—the ritual of enjoying life’s simple pleasures
Mason
August
“Oh, my God. Look at this view!” Emery squeals with excitement as she looks out the floor-to-ceiling windows in our room overlooking Lake Tahoe.
The Best of Me Page 18